Crispy Fish with Fresh Corn and Scallions
By Yankee Magazine|Sep 27 2010|
Crispy Fish with Fresh Corn and Scallions
Photo Credit: Amy TraversoToasted wheat germ and cornmeal combine to create a light, crunchy crust for this delicate fish (a.k.a. fluke), which also tastes wonderful with homemade tartar sauce. Soaking the fillets in milk before cooking plumps the meat and helps keep it moist.
Yield
4-6 servings
Total Time
30 minutesIngredients
1-1/2 pounds boneless summer flounder (fluke) fillets or other thin, white fish
1 cup milk
2 bunches scallions (about 6), trimmed and thinly sliced
3 tablespoons plus 1/4 cup olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 cups corn kernels (about 5 ears)
1/2 cup toasted wheat germ
1/3 cup cornmeal
1/2 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 cup packed small fresh basil leaves
1/4 cup minced chives
1 large lemon, cut into 6 wedges
Instructions
Place fish in a large dish and cover with milk. Refrigerate 20 to 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium heat, cook scallions in 3 tablespoons oil until softened, about 1 minute. Stir in garlic and corn; cook 3 minutes. Reduce heat to very low, cover, and keep warm.
In a large, flat dish, stir together wheat germ, cornmeal, salt, and cayenne. Remove fish from refrigerator and drain off milk. Dredge each fillet in wheat germ-cornmeal mixture and place on a baking sheet. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large, nonstick skillet over medium-high setting. Place half the fillets in pan and cook 3 minutes on each side, adding more oil and adjusting heat slightly if they start to brown too quickly. Transfer cooked fillets to a platter. Add remaining 2 tablespoons oil to skillet and cook remaining fillets.
Just before serving, season corn mixture with salt to taste. Spoon some corn onto individual plates and top each serving with a fish fillet and lemon wedge. Sprinkle with fresh herbs. Let guests squeeze lemon over fish at the table.
Notes
If you prefer, you may substitute lemon sole for the flounder. If you don’t have any wheat germ on hand a straight cornmeal crust will still work beautifully, and feel free to garnish with whatever herbs you have on hand.
